Refrigeration system



Feb. 27, 1934. v R v GRAYSON 1,948,790

REFRIGERATION SYSTEM Filed Sept. 10, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 40 gmentoq,

42 zwwymw v M Feb. 27, 1934; R v GRAYSON 1,948,790

REFRIGERATION SYSTEM Filed Sept. 10, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 35 RaZ vh V.firaysan Patented Feb. 21, 1934 I REFRIGERATION SYSTEM Ralph V. Grayson,Atlanta, Ga., assignor of fifty per cent to E. G. Ballenger, C. M.Foster, and I. M. Bird, all of Atlanta, Ga., as organizers andincorporators of Refrigeration Patents and Processes, Inc., acorporation to be organized under the laws of Georgia ApplicationSeptember 10, 1930 Serial No. 480,997

9 Claims. (01. 62-104) This invention relates to refrigeration, andparticularly to the fast freezing of food stuffs by passing them for therequired freezing period through refrigerated chambers or tunnels.

Although the invention may be successfully practised in relation to anyrefrigeration system of the type indicated, it is particularly designedto be employed in connection with the refrigeration system disclosed andclaimed in my application for patent Number 442,834, in which a closedcirculation of air or gas is maintained through a battery of tunnelsarranged in multiple and adapted to be brought collectively, singly, orin any number into series communication,

' 16 forming a path or paths of suitable length to carry out therefrigerating operation, the air or gas being itself refrigeratedthrough contact with the evaporation element of Carnot cyclerefrigcrating unit.

- One of the objects of the invention is the construction ofapparatusembodying the principles of the invention.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novelrefrigeration process.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following descriptionof the illustrative embodiment thereafter proceeds. 4

In the drawings in which the same characters of references are usedthroughout the several 80 figures to denote identical parts, Figure 1 isa longitudinal vertical section, largely diagrammatic, through therefrigeration system, embracing the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, horizontal section.

86 Fig. 3 is a cross-section of one of the tunnels on an enlarged scale,showing one of the conveyor baskets.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5is a "-n view of an exemplary form of variable speed drive.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same drive. Fig. '7 is a horizontalsection through the, receiving end of one of the tunnels, showing theflapper doors.

Fig. 8 is a side view of. a basket for holding the filled receptacleswhile in the process of freezing;

Fig. 9 is a planview of the same;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale showing the resilientflllerassociated with the lidof the basket;

Fig. 11 is an exploded view of the two plates with associated springswhich constitute the filler and lid;

Fig. 12 is a detafl in perspective showing the means for securing thehinged segment of the rim in place; and

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the perforate bottom of one of the trays.

Referring in detail to the several figures, the numeral 1 representswalls enclosing a chamber 2. This chamber is provided with alongitudinal partition 3, forming an upper air refrigerating tunnel 4,while a lower horizontal partition 5 l6 divides the spaces beneath theair refrigerating chamber into upper and lower levels of tunnels 6 and7. It will be noted from Fig. 2 that there .are also verticallongitudinal partitions 8 and 9 arranged beneath the air refrigeratingchamber, to defining with the horizontal partition 5, a'plurality oftunnels in each tier or level. The vertical and horizontal partitionsall fall short of meeting the end walls of the chamber 2 so that a spacefor the circulation of refrigerated air or gas is provided. The frigidfluid descending from the air refrigerating chamber at one end bycontion flow of refrigerated air or gas through'the system.

Fig. 2 shows that the vertical partitions 8 and 9 are slightly staggeredin order to make room at one end of each of the said partitions for theconveyor shafts 12 and 13 and their respective sprockets, 14 and 15.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, as shown, the end walls ofthe chamber 2 are provided in line with one end of each of the tunnelswith a receiving opening 16, and a delivery opening 1'7. These openingsare guarded by air traps which are shown somewhat diagrammatically inFigure 7, each trap consisting of a chamber 19, defined at its oppositeends by pairs of swinging flapper doors 20 and 21, hinged at oppositesides of said openings and having their edges meet when the doors are intransverse position, closing the chamber 19; The doors are I maintainedin closed position by spring means and when they are engaged by theobject upon the conveyor, they are opened by said object to a positionsomewhat as indicated in the dotted lines in Figure '7, one pair of thedoors closing before the other pair begins to be opened. In this way, 1

little or none of the refrigerated air or gas escapes at the points ofentrance and emergence of the conveyor.

In Figure 1, the conveyor is shown as having upper and lower flights 22and 23 corresponding to the upper and lower levels of the tunnels andthe conveyor follows a sinuous circuit from one tunnel laterally intothe next tunnel and then laterally into the third tunnel, and, finally,to the delivery point which is outside of the chamber 2.- The conveyoris of the endless type and while it is travelling outside of the tunnelsopportunity is given for taking off the frozen product for storage andplacing on the conveyor fresh products to be frozen.

At those points outside of the refrigerated chamber, at which theconveyor changes its direction of travel, it is supported on suitableshafts 24, 25 and 26, furnished with corresponding sprockets 27, 28 and29. The conveyor is driven by any desired type of prime mover, such aselectric motor 30, which motor is connected with variable speed drive 31of any suitable construction and from which the power is transmitted tothe conveyor. On account of the length of the conveyor, it is desirable,in order to avoid undue strain, to transmit the drive separately to theconveyor at a number of points. Figure 5 shows an arrangement foraccomplishing this purpose, consisting of a bevel gear 32 driven from avariable speed drive in and carried by means of pinions 33, 34 and 35,with stub shafts 36, 37 and 38, respectively, which in turn mesh withbevels by which the sprockets 14, 27 and 28 are rotated. An idler 39 issuperposed in the driving 001111609- tion between the stub shaft 3'1 andthe gear 40, which drive the sprocket 14, the purpose of this idlerbeing to reverse the direction of rotation of the sprocket 14 whichotherwisewould oppose the direction of travel of the conveyor impartedto it by the sprockets 2'! and 28.

It is to be understood that the type of drive as shown, and its drivingconnections to the conveyor are merely suggestive and by no means to beconsidered limitative of the scope of the invention.

The details of the conveyor may be gathered from reference to Fig. 3 andFig. 4, in which it will be noted that the tunnels are provided withbrackets 41 fixedly supported and carrying a suitable track 42 inwhichrollers 43 are supported and retained. The rollers are connected inpairs by a carriage 44, to which they are pivotally mounted and whichcarriage has a ball connection 45 is fitted in a suitable socket 48 in alink '47. The links 47 are especially constructed, as shown, withreference to the carriage, but the intervening links 47', betweensuccessive carriages are of ordinary construction, being adapted merelyto embrace the teeth of the several sprockets about which the conveyorpasses. The carriage 44 through an intermediary of the ball connection45 supports the conveyor chain against catenary deflection.

A frame 48 is pivotally mounted at the lower end of each of thecarriages by means of the link 49; each frame comprising bifurcated arms50 and 51, pivotally connected to opposite sides of the basket orcarrier 52 along an axis which preferably passes through the center ofgravity of the basket when filled with. the packaged products tobefrozen', 'The baskets 52 are provided with rims or tires 53 mounted invertical planes .and suitably secured to saidbaskets. Said rims or tirestractively enga'gethe floors of the .tunnels so that while the conveyortravels horizonta y,

the baskets rotate about the horizontal axis, the packages of frozenfoods being repeatedly overturned during the traverse of the conveyorthrough the tunnels. Over-turning of the freezing products preventssettling of solid bodies in the syrup or juice by whichthey may besurrounded, and therefore produces homogeneous freezing and distributionof the constituents of the frozen products, and, especially in the caseof fruit juice such as orange or grape-fruit, sedimentation during thefreezing process is thus avoided.

The baskets 52 are loaded with trays filled with packages 54 of the foodstuff while the conveyor is outside of the freezing chamber, and at the80 point of filling, the track 42 may be discontinuous so that the frame48, together with the basket, may be swung around at right angles to itsnormal position by virtue of the ball connection 45 for ease in filling.86

Trays 55 are preferably provided, which can be fllled with the packagesat a convenient distant point and then placed in the baskets which maybe constructed to receive the trays at one side, the limbs 50 and 51being detachably connected for this purpose. It is obvious that thepackages in the baskets must be kept immovable in view of theover-turning process, and consequently it is preferred to construct thetrays so that the packages will be positively held in place. To thisend, the trays are preferably made of sheet metal having punched upannular flanges 60 surrounding apertures 61 of such size as to snuglyreceive the bottom portions of the receptacle. It is obvious that thebottoms of the receptacles are thus freely exposed to the refrigeratedair circulating through the baskets. The trays are formed withadditional perforations 62 ensuring free circulation of refrigerated airthrough the inter-tray spaces.

The lid 58 of the receptacle is preferably provided on its under-sidewith a filler plate 59, connected to said lid by means of springs 63which normally tend to bias said lid and plate apart. The extent towhich the lid and filler plate may extend are controlled by means ofbolts 64 provided with thumb nuts 65. When the lid together withthefiller plate, is in place, the filler plate'presses upon the top layerof the receptacles firmly holding the whole body of the receptaclesimmovably in the basket. To permit filling of the basket, a part of eachof the rims 53 is hinged as indicated-at 66 and severed at 67, so thatthe hinged portion 53 may be lifted out of the way giving free access tothe basket through the top. When the hinged portions 53 are restored totheir normal circumferential position the chordate portions 68 thereofpress upon the lid, holding it firmly in place and serving as anabutment for the reaction of the filler plate 59. The hinged portion isheld in place by means such as the slotted lug 69 and the stud '70 whichenters into said lug, the parts being maintained in position by means ofthe'thumb nut 71.

It is to be understood that the details of com struction of the basketand its appurtenant parts may be varied to suit the exigencies of use.The packages may be of metal although the invention contemplates the useof paper packages having lids of the same material.

Since the operation of the apparatus has been described in connectionwith the construction of its several features, it is obvious withoutfurther descriptiomthat when the filled baskets are returned to theconveyor and properly oriented 1 relative to the track, the conveyor isset into operation and the baskets travelthrough the air traps at theends of the chamber 2 and serially through the several tunnels, therebeing a separate conveyor for each level, and the conveyor being drivensimultaneously, and from a common driving source. The speed of theconveyor is determined with relation both to the aggregate length of thetunnels at even the level and with respect to the temperature of therefrigerated air, so that when the baskets emerge from the delivery endof the apparatus, the packages therein contained are fully frozen.

It is to be understood that none of the structural detail in theforegoing description should be considered limitative upon theinvention, as claimed, except where such limitation is compelled by thestate of the prior art.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Refrigeration system comprising, means defining a conduit for there-current circulation of refrigerated air, said means including atunnel, and an endless conveyor for the product to be frozen, having aportion thereof travelling longitudinally within said tunnel, of suchlength and travelling at such speed as to effect the requisite freezingduring the sojourn of said product within said tunnel, said conveyorincluding means cooperating with a wall of said tunnel for repeatedlyoverturning the product to be frozen during its progress within saidtunnel.

2. Refrigeration system comprising, a tunnel for refrigerated air, aconveyor travelling longitudinally through said tunnel, a receptacle forthe product to be frozen carried by said conveyor, and means responsive'to the longitudinal movement of said conveyor cooperating with a wallof said tunnel for revolving said receptacle about a horizontal axiswhile it .is being conveyed through said tunnel.

3. Refrigeration. system comprising, a tunnel for refrigerated air, aconveyor travelling longitudinally through said tunnel, a receptacle forthe product to be frozen, carried by said conveyor, and means associatedwith said receptacle and rolling along the floor of the said tunnelresponsive to the longitudinal movement of said conveyor for revolvingsaid receptacle about a horizontal axis as it is being conveyed throughsaid tunnel. r

4. In a refrigeration system means forming a tunnel for refrigeratedair, a chain conveyor travelling longitudinally within said tunnel, atrack within said tunnel extending substantially parallel to saidconveyor, carriages mounted on connected to said basket substantially ata horihorizontal axis when drawn by said conveyor.

said track connected to said conveyor, baskets suspended from saidcarriages and rolling means fixed with respect to said baskets, engagingthe floor of said tunnel for overturning said baskets when the latterare drawn by said conveyor.

5. In a refrigeration system, means forming a tunnel for refrigeratedair and a chain conveyor travelling longitudinally within said tunnel. atrack within said tunnel extending substantially parallel to saidconveyor, carriages mounted on said track connected to said conveyor,baskets, means forming a ball and socket joint by which the baskets aresuspended from said carriages, and rolling means fixed with respect tosaid baskets engaging the floor of said tunnel for overturning saidbaskets when the latter are drawn by. said conveyor.

6. In a refrigeration system, means forming a tunnel for refrigeratedair and a chain conveyor travelling longitudinally within said tunnel, atrack within said tunnel extending substantially parallel to saidconveyor, carriages mounted on said track, rigid means connecting saidcarriages to said conveyor to maintain the latter in a plane, basketssuspended from said conveyor and rolling means fixed with respect tosaid baskets, revoluble about the axis, passing substantially throughthe center of gravity of said baskets and engaging the floor of saidtunnels for overturning said baskets when the latter are drawn by said105 conveyor.

7. In a refrigeration system in combination with a substantiallyhorizontally travelling conveyor, a basket drawn by said conveyor bymeans zontal axis passing through its-center of gravity,

and circular means encompassing said basket in a vertical plane andcooperating with a wall of said tunnel for causing it to revolve aboutsaid 8. A basket for over-turning packaged products during a freezingprocess comprising a receptacle, rolling means encompassing saidreceptacle in a vertical plane, a lid for said receptacle, said rollingmeans having a hinged section above said lid permitting removal of saidlid when said section is open and holding said lid closed when saidsection is shut.

9. A basket for over-turning packaged products during a freezing'processas claimed in claim 8, including a plurality of superposed trays and aresilient filler reacting between said lid and the packaged productsupon said trays for maintaining the whole in unitary relation.

- RALPH V. GRAYSON.

